Sewing-machine lighting unit



- July 1, 1930.

c. PACKER snfwi m MACHINE LIGHTING UNIT Filed April 27, 1929 .|NVENTOR Lewls G. Packer ATTORNEY" Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEWIS G. PACKER, OF LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIG & MANUFACTURING GOMIPANY,'A COBPOBATIONOF PENNSYLVANIA SEWING-MACHINE LIGHTING" UNIT Application filed April 27,

Myinvention relates to lighting units and has particular relation to lighting attachments for sewing machines.

An object of my invention is to provide a lighting attachment which shall be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and of maximum utility.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lighting attachment suitable for drophead or portable machines, which shall occupy a minimum amount of space and which shall be inconspicuous and out of the way of the operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lighting attachment which, when in working position ona sewing machine, will not interfere with and need not be shifted or manipulated by, the operator in order to permit dropping of the sewing machine head within the cavity of the usual drophead stand or with the placing of the cover of a portable carrying case over the sewing head.

Another object of my invention is to pro- 7 vide a lighting attachment which may be securely fastened to the machine, which will not vibrate while the machine is running and in which the wiring is hidden from view and protected from.mecha'nical injury.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lighting unit which may be readily removed for renewal of the lamp orfrepair I of the unit and in which the lighting unit be resiliently mounted, if desired,

ma whereby the destructive effects of vibration are minimized.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a lighting attachment such that the light shall be directed upon the work. and not strike the eyes of the user, either directly or by reflection from the surface of the work or the table. This result is secured without casting objectionable shadows .of machine parts on the work.

In practicing my invention, I provide a 1929. Serial No. 358,605.

lug or receptacle, either as an integral part of the goose neck of a sewing machine or as an attachment therefor, adapted to direct the light downward on the work. The

lighting unit is disposed in such manner that it does not interfere with the operation of the machine or manipulation of the work.

the globe and socket of the lighting unit are shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing another embodiment of my invention and Fig. '5 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of my invention, taken looking from the goose neck toward the'head of the machine and showing an improved suspension means for the lighting unit.

In the accompanying drawings showing various embodiments ofmy invention, a sewing-machine head of usual construction is illustrated as mounted upon a base 1, which may be of the portable of drop-head type.

The sewing-machine frame comprises a flat bed 2 from which rises a hollow bracket arm or goose neck including a standard 3 and a horizontal member A terminating in a sewing head 5 in which are slidably mounted the usual presser bar 6 and reciprocating needle bar 7 carrying, respectively, the presser foot 8 and the needle 9. The needle 9 cooperates with the usual feed dog and loop taker (not shown) to form stitches.

The mechanism in the sewing-machine head is driven by means of a drive shaft 11 which may be rotated either by means of a hand wheel.12 or a pulley 13, in the usual manner. Machines of thistype are usually driven by suitable motor attachments which have been omitted from the illustration since they form no'part of the present invention, except as a motor may require suitable electric supply conductors, and the connections for the lighting unit may be so disposed as to take advantage of the location of the riving'motor. The sewing machine may, of course, be driven in any desired manner as, for instance, by actuation of the usual foot pedal known to the art.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a portion of the horizontal standard is .enlarged and deformed to provide a chamber 21 on the side of the goose neck near the sewing machine head. The chamber is preferably cylindrical and its longitudinal axis is preferably tilted at an angle to the vertical in order that the light from the lighting unit may be directed downwardly on the work.

In the embodiment here shown, a circular flange 24 is provided at the lower portion of the cylinder 21 and its upper portion 25 is provided with threads on its interior wall. A lens 26 is provided the diameter of which is such that it covers the lower opening of cylinder 21 and rests on flange 24. A cylindrical or tubular sleeve 27 is disposed within the cylinder 21. A lam socket 28 is provided with a cylindrical Eange 29 to rest upon the sleeve 27, and

a, washer-like sleeve 31 is provided above the lamp socket to engage the cylinder walls and the flange of the socket; An externally threaded cap 32 is adapted to engage the threads of cylinder 21 and to engage also the washer 31,: whereby the lamp socket is held securely in place when the cap is enin the cylinder 21.

. g a ed fin opening 33 is provided in the cap 32 tudinal vibrations of the lighting unit.

The lamp 38 may be switched on or ofi by means of the switch button 39, which constitutes a part of the lamp socket 28 and projects through the wall of the chamber 21. The button 38 may be readily unscrewed from the lamp socket and the lighting unit removed from its chamber by removal of the cap 32.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 3, the chamber 41 which is a separate and distinct part, is provided with a bracket 42,'which may be secured to the under and inner side of the sewing-machine head 5 by means of screws 43. The bracket is preferably so constructed that the longitudinal axis of the cylinder is tilted with respect to the vertical. The construction of the lighting unit, the parts within the cylinder and the arrangement of the conductors substantiall the same as those of the unit shown in integral part of the goose neck and may be removed from the head by disengaging the screws 43. Certain advantages over the prior art are secured by this construction, as hereinafter set forth. For instance, the device may be attached to the conventional sewing-machine goose neck by providing suitable openings in the standard and head, the device may readily be removed for inspection and repair, the lighting unit may be resiliently engaged and held, the attachment is out of the way of the operator and the light is directed to the point where it is most needed without casting objectionable shadows.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the longitudinal axis of the lighting unit is in a horizontal plane but the axis of projection of the light is at r In this embodian angle to the vertical. ment of my invention, the cylinder 46 is horizontally disposed but the construction of the lighting unit, the cylinder parts and arrangement of the conductors are substantially the same, as in the attachments hereinbefore described. The lighting unit, however, is provided with a resilient mounting,

-including the cylindrical flange on socket 47, constituting a portion ofthe lamp socket, and a cylindrical shadeor guard 48 adapted to partially surround the lamp 49.

The means employed for holding the lamp in position comprises the helical spirallywound spring 50 disposed in one end of the igs. 1 and 2, but the chamber is not an cylinder and bearing between the wall 51.

of the cylinder and the shade 48. The cylindrical flange 47 is resiliently engaged by one end of another helical spring 53, the other end of which engages a cap 54, which may be locked in place by means of a screw 55.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the shade or reflector 48 may be adjusted in such manner as to project the light in the most desirable manner by merely rotating the shade in the cylinder. The lamp may be switched on and oil by means of a button56.

The lighting attachment does not project unduly from the goose neck and is so located that it interferes to a minimum degree with the manipulation of the work and the handling of the machine. The lighting attachment is so combined with the goose neck that it does not detract from the appearance the member, one end of which engages the of the machine.

The electrical conductors for furnishing energy to the lamp are introduced through the goose neck and'into the attachment in an unobtrusive manner and are hidden from view for the greater part of their length.

If desired, any unit shown may be so arranged that the electrical conductor is introduced into the unit by means of an opening communicating with the interior of the goose neck, whereby outward or exposed location of the conductors is entirely avoided. The light is directed across the work or downward upon the work without direct glare into the eyes of the operator and without reflecting light into the eyes of the operator from the work or from the polished surfaces of the machine.

The device is located within the planes formed bythe ends and slides of the plate 2, whereby the device does not interfere with dropping the head within the cavity of the usual drop head cabinet or with placing a cover of a carrying case over the head.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims:

1. The combination with a sewing-machine goose neck embodying the usual standard, horizontal arm and head, of a tubular member, open at one end, on said goose neck, a lighting unit comprising a lamp and a lamp socket in said tubular member and a pair of spaced substantially tubular devices in the tubular member and coaxial therewith for positioning the lighting unit, and a cover for the open end for holding the lighting unit and the substantially tubular devices in the tubular member.

2. The combination with a sewing-machine goose neck, of a tubular member mounted thereon, a lens in said member at one end thereof, a lighting unit comprising a lamp socket and a lamp in said tubular member, a substantially tubular device in the member, one end of which engages the lens and the other end of which engages the lamp socket, a second substantially tubular device having one end engaging the lamp socket, and a cover at the other end of the tubular member for holding the tubular devices, lighting unit and lens in their proper operative positions in the tubular member.

3. The combination with a sewing-machine goose neck, of a tubular member mounted thereon with its axis inclined from a vertical line, a lens in said member at one end thereof, a lighting unit comprising a lamp socket and a lamp in said tubular member, a substantially tubular device in lens and the other end of which engages the lamp socket, a second substantially tubular device having one end engaging the lamp socket, and a cover at the other end of the tubular member for holding the tubular devices, lighting unit and lens in their proper operative positions in the tubular member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of April,

LEWIS C. PACKER. 

